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February 24, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the Feb. 24, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Crackdown on Immigrants Who Use Public Benefits Takes Effect

The guidelines that aim to determine whether immigrants seeking legal residency are likely to become a government burden are part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reduce immigration, particularly among poorer people.

Jussie Smollett Pleads Not Guilty to New Disorderly Conduct Charges

The former “Empire” star appeared at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Monday, almost a year to the day after he first entered a similar plea in the initial case against him.

Paczki Day is So Nice, We Celebrate it Twice

Chicago’s Polish bakeries have to prep for two Paczki Days: Fat Thursday, celebrated by Poles, and Fat Tuesday, celebrated by everyone else.

Local Teens Say High School Class Prepared Them to Respond to Emergencies

Two students who took a biomedical science class in the northwest suburbs say the program prepared them for stressful real-life situations. “Everyone should know what goes on in the body and how things work,” said Sarah Touhy.

Karenna Gore Has Some Inconvenient Truths of Her Own to Share About Climate Change

The daughter of former Vice President Al Gore is founder of the Center for Earth Ethics, which frames the environmental crisis in moral terms. She tells us about her work ahead of her appearance this week at a climate change forum in Chicago.

The Week in Review: Blagojevich Returns Home as ‘Freed Political Prisoner’

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is boisterous and unrepentant as he returns home, singing the praises of President Trump. Meanwhile, Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushes a progressive tax in his budget address.

Cook County Cold-Related Deaths Rise to 32

On Friday, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office reported four new cold-related deaths in the county.

CPS Watchdog Finds ‘Unusual Patterns’ in District’s NWEA Testing Practices

District contends findings don’t “call into question the accomplishments of our students”

CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler said analyses conducted by his office found possible “gaming and cheating techniques,” including longer than average test durations and high numbers of pauses.

Inmate Dubbed the ‘Starved Rock Killer’ Freed After 59 Years

An 80-year-old man who spent nearly 60 years in prison after being convicted of killing one of three suburban Chicago women whose brutalized bodies were found in a state park walked out of prison Friday.

CSO Infuses Beethoven Classics With New Energy and Captures Ophelia’s Descent Into Madness

What Maestro Riccardo Muti and the orchestra have made continually clear throughout this year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth is how thrillingly modern the composer’s work can feel. 

TV Analyst? Spokesman? Freed Ex-Gov. Blagojevich Goes Job Hunting

Fresh out of prison thanks to a commutation this week from President Donald Trump, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is in the hunt for a post-prison career. 

Lincoln Park High School Staffer Removed After ‘Altercation’ With Student

This marks the latest incident at a school that has already seen multiple administrators removed and several investigations launched in recent weeks.

Gloves Come Off in Democratic Debate Over Medicare for All

One particular issue keeps rising to the top of voters’ concerns this primary season. Medicare for All took center stage at the democratic debate in Las Vegas this week – and the candidates pulled no punches.

A Summit at UIC Aims to Make Progress on Poverty

Poverty was front and center at a summit Thursday at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where local policymakers, union leaders, employers and academics focused on how to end poverty in Chicago within a generation.

MSI Chicago Celebrates 50 Years of African American Artists

Chicago artists talk about the long-term impact of the museum’s annual Black Creativity exhibit.

Lightfoot: Revised Chicago Casino Proposal ‘Good for Illinois’

A one-on-one with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who spent part of the week in Springfield lobbying lawmakers to approve a bill that would ease some of the casino taxes and fees. We discuss that and more with the mayor.

Creating the State Street of the Future, Again

Every year, millions of people visit State Street in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. But is the street working the way it should? That’s the question the Chicago Loop Alliance is asking as it considers what State Street could be.

New Visa Rules Set Off ‘Panic Wave’ in Immigrant Communities

A Trump administration policy is expected to all but shut down family based immigration from Myanmar, also known as Burma, as well as Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan and Eritrea. The policy also restricts visas from Sudan and Tanzania.

Creator of the 1619 Project Discusses the Legacy of Slavery

This year, the U.S. marks the 400th year since the Pilgrims arrived. But the year before that, a much darker period began with the sailing of the White Lion. We speak with New York Times Magazine journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones about The 1619 Project.

Ask Geoffrey: A (Brief) History of Fulton Market

Fulton Market in Chicago’s West Loop is home to some of the city’s trendiest restaurants – and its highest rents. But the area’s history as an economic powerhouse is anything but new. Geoffrey Baer takes us back.

Crain’s Headlines: Feds Don’t Buy Outcome Health Founder’s Claim

The feds say Outcome Health founder Rishi Shah has more money than he claims.

4 CTA Stations on Red, Blue Lines Set to Close This Weekend

Three CTA Red Line stations in Edgewater will be closed from Friday night through Monday morning for the fifth consecutive weekend. The Grand Blue Line station will also be closed.

February 20, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the Feb. 20, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

While All Eyes Were on Blago, City Council OK’d $12M in Misconduct Payouts, Sunday Morning Liquor Sales

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones was also honored with a resolution acknowledging her groundbreaking 1619 Project, prompting moving comments from several council members.

Chicago Man Charged in Sexual Assault of 3-Year-Old in River North Restaurant

Christopher Puente, 34, was charged Thursday with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 13, and an unrelated misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing.
 

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